Skip to main content

Cloud service interference

If the Beam application does not start or appears frozen at startup, this may be caused by cloud services interfering with files stored in the Documents folder.

Both macOS and Windows include built-in cloud services (iCloud Drive and OneDrive) that can automatically move files from your local Documents folder into the cloud. Applications like Beam, which rely on files in this location, may be affected if those files are not immediately available on your computer.

Why this happens​

Beam installs its fixture profiles in the Documents folder. If iCloud Drive (macOS) or OneDrive (Windows) uploads these files to the cloud and replaces them with placeholders, Beam may not be able to access them right away. This can result in slow startup times or the application not launching properly.

How to check​

  1. On macOS (iCloud Drive)

    • Go to System Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → iCloud Drive.
    • Make sure Optimize Mac Storage is disabled for the Documents folder, or at least for the Beam folder inside Documents.
    • More information: Apple Support – Optimize Mac Storage.

  2. On Windows (OneDrive)

    • Open OneDrive Settings → Sync and Backup → Manage Backup.
    • Check whether the Documents folder is being backed up to OneDrive.
    • If it is, ensure the Beam folder is set to Always keep on this device, so the files remain available locally.
    • More information: Microsoft Support – Manage OneDrive backup.